Submitting Institution: University College London

REF impact found 283 Case Studies

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Summary of the impact

The Abraham solvation parameter approach developed at UCL has become
integral to the work carried out by drug discovery teams at [text removed
for publication] and other major pharmaceutical companies, as well as
research and development groups at international chemical companies
including Syngenta and [text removed for publication]. It enables chemists
to predict physicochemical and biochemical properties of chemicals,
including drugs and agrochemicals, rapidly and efficiently, without the
need to conduct time-consuming experiments. The method helps drug
discovery teams to identify and optimise the most promising compounds, and
often results in fewer compounds being made before a candidate is
selected, saving time and resources. The approach has been integrated into
software used for drug discovery [text removed for publication].

Summary of the impact

As a result of our discoveries of a new splice variant (ASIC1b) and a new
member (ASIC4) of the ASIC family, and elucidation of their roles in pain
caused by tissue acidity, several pharmaceutical companies are now working
on ASIC-targeted analgesics and one company has been set up specifically
to focus on this work. ASIC-related therapies for a wide variety of
conditions are now in clinical trials, with substantial patient
involvement. Our work has allowed new therapeutic applications to be
conceived for already existing prescribed compounds, and for
naturally-occurring compounds, that act on ASICs. Thus, our research on
ASICs has had clinical and commercial impact.

Submitting Institutions

University College London,Birkbeck College

Unit of Assessment

Biological Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Summary of the impact

Haemophilia, an inherited bleeding disease, is treated by frequent and
extremely expensive infusions of recombinant versions of the missing
factors. Advances in gene therapy have now been achieved at UCL, with
successful treatment of Haemophilia B in 10 severely affected patients.
The novel factor IX expression cassette has been patented and licensed to
an industrial partner (UniQure). Savings to the NHS in excess of £1.5m
have already been made and increase every month. Pre-clinical advances
have also been made in Haemophilia A, and the factor VIII expression
cassette has been patented and licensed to an industrial partner
(BioMarin).

Summary of the impact

Alternatives to acute admission in mental health are crucial, not least
because of the high cost of inpatient care. We have carried out a major
research programme that includes the only randomised controlled evaluation
of crisis resolution teams and the only major UK study of crisis houses,
which are community-based, residential alternatives to hospital admission.
This programme demonstrated the efficacy of community treatment and has
significantly influenced decision making at a local and national policy
level, including commissioning guidance and three sets of NICE guidelines.
This has contributed to changes in the way acute services for severely
mentally ill adults are configured in the NHS, and internationally.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Summary of the impact

Our research on alternatives to medication in the treatment of childhood
epilepsy has resulted in
increasing rates of surgery with better outcomes, and a new clinical
service — the national
Children's Epilepsy Surgery Service (CESS) — being commissioned in England
and Wales. We
have also developed an evidence base for ketogenic dietary therapy,
resulting in an increase in
service provision. Many more patients are benefiting from this therapy,
which is now recommended
in NICE guidelines. Throughout our programme of research we have engaged
with charities and
patient groups to disseminate the results of our research as widely as
possible.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Clinical Medicine

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Summary of the impact

The UCL Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins has designed and
developed new chemical entities targeting serum amyloid P component (SAP),
C-reactive protein (CRP) and transthyretin, for novel therapeutic
approaches to amyloidosis, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular and
inflammatory diseases. The UCL spin out company, Pentraxin Therapeutics
Ltd, founded by Sir Mark Pepys to hold his intellectual property (IP), has
licensed two programmes to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). These highly
synergistic, collaborative multi-million pound developments, strikingly
exemplify new working relationships between academia and the
pharmaceutical industry.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Clinical Medicine

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Summary of the impact

Clare Stanford's group has opened up a new line of research for drug
treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Based on this work,
UCL Business has been awarded an EU patent for the NK1R `knockout' mouse
as an investigative tool and pharmaceutical screen. Cerebricon, a
subsidiary of Charles River, has taken an exclusive licence to market this
mouse and advertise it on their website. Our studies have also enabled us
to identify a new genetic locus in which abnormalities are linked to ADHD
in humans, and to identify a new drug candidate for treating ADHD.

Submitting Institutions

University College London,Birkbeck College

Unit of Assessment

Biological Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Summary of the impact

Research by Dr Andrew Martin at the UCL Research Department of Structural
& Molecular Biology
has led to a series of antibody-related tools being made available for
free use over the Web. One
of these, Abysis, has been visited over 360,000 times by over 8,000 users.
Abysis has also been
released under a commercial license and has been purchased by companies
ranging from small
biotechs to large pharma for use in their antibody therapeutic development
pipelines, allowing them
to identify unusual features of their sequences and to improve strategies
for humanisation. Martin
has also acted as an expert witness for drug companies in patent disputes.

Summary of the impact

Research by Marianne Odlyha and her group at the Department of Biological
Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, has led to the development of
minimally invasive analytical methods and portable tools (dosimeters) for
assessing damage to historical artefacts. These dosimeters are now in use
at locations around the world, including the Tate Gallery's store rooms,
English Heritage properties (Apsley House) and museums in Ghent, Cracow
and Mexico. Methods for assessing damage, and for mitigation of pollutant
impact on objects in museum enclosures, have been disseminated to
conservation professionals through workshops and training courses held
across Europe. The assessment and prevention of damage is vital to
conserve the cultural as well as the monetary value of artefacts.

Summary of the impact

Our research into the epidemiology of childhood visual impairment has
transformed understanding of the epidemiology, outcomes and impact of
childhood visual impairment in the UK. As a result, changes have been made
to the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Programme and the National
Vision Screening Programme. Our work has underpinned the development of
new quality standards for paediatric ophthalmology services issued by the
Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Our studies on congenital cataract have
improved the management of this condition nationally. We have involved
visually impaired service users and patient groups directly in our
research to improve quality of life measures and patient engagement.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Ophthalmology and Optometry, Public Health and Health Services